210 



THE RAT 



of my damaged member, which was rather painful, 

 and felt very cold without its covering of skin. I 

 cannot say that it looked any nicer than it felt, and 

 I came to the conclusion that the bone was smashed. 

 I may add that my conclusion was correct, for the 

 broken tip gradually dropped off, and after the first 

 day caused me very little pain. I was glad when 

 it went, for I was quite tired of the silly old thing, 

 and the thought that I was now a Tailer was ample 

 consolation for the slight damage to my personal 

 appearance. I never can manage to take any 

 interest in what has once been spoilt. Even if 

 I were to make a little blot on this page I should 

 tear it up and begin again. I don't say that it is a 

 good thing, but I believe that I was born that way. 



So much for the minor accident. Before I go 

 on to describe the greater calamity, which was a 

 much more serious affair, I must tell you in a few 

 words something of what happened to me in the 

 meanwhile, because there was a longish interval. 

 I had plenty of time to recover from one blow 

 before the other fell, or, if you like, I had plenty 

 of time to get used to one honour before the other 

 was thrust upon me. 



I have good cause to remember the winter which 

 followed, for it was a very terrible one for all the 



